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Saturday, November 03, 2012

Newsy Stuff

Newsy stuff today - my favorite kind of post. First off, a couple of success stories.I know I'm a little late to the Halloween party - but then I'm always late. With talented authors such as Kiran Hunter, Tristram la Roche, Elin Gregory, Dianne Hartsock and Renée George, this anthology was bound to be a hit. And it is. It's shot up to the #1 position in BookStrand. All my pals at the top of the charts and they've left me behind! (The rotters). Next up is a heart-warming true story of a fellow-author.

As you know, I'm a sucker for unsung heroes (just look at Hewhay Hall - ahem) and stories of courage and perseverence that win through in the end. Paula Sophia has poured herself, her angst, her experiences as a tough police officer and a transgender woman into a thrilling, fast-paced, "take-no-prisoners" book called Shadow Boxer.They must've been so impressed, the BBC World Service invited her to tell her own story on their Outlook programme - do listen to it. You'll fall in love with Paula Sophia Schonauer, I know you will.The podcast is hereAnd finally. A bit of writing help. Maybe you're not like me, but when I'm writing I do try and get the plot right first time. Even now, I'm a little stuck with my WIP because I need to put one of my protags in a difficult position. But I'm not quite sure what it is and if it will work well. So I'm stuck. Until I read this post by a man who gives the best writing advice: Seth Godin. Of course I'm stuck! So, once I've finished this post I'm just going to write - and see what happens. Wish me luck.

I do the stuck thing too. I'll hit a scene I can't figure out and it will fester for three days until I can find the right solution. I've tried to push through just to write something, but I have a very stubborn mind. If it doesn't like where it's going, it sits down and refuses to budge until it gets what it really wants.

Being stuck is a total pain. You know the bits I get stuck on and there doesn't seem to be any help for it, bearing in mind what I write. Honestly it's enough to make me consider writing YA only that's too difficult.

Thanks for the mention, Sue! I have so much in my head waiting to break out I'm more concerned about not being able to stop once I start - and how much sense it will make when it does escape... I can see a lot of editing in the near future (without the use of a crystal ball!)